Current Postdoctoral Fellows


Beatriz Mendez

Beatriz Mendez PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Beatriz “Betty” Mendez, Ph.D. is a post-doctoral fellow providing evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents and families for behavior concerns, with a primary focus on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr. Mendez completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology at The University of Alabama and her predoctoral internship at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama. Her training has concentrated on the psychological evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents, with particular clinical and research interests in childhood disruptive behavior disorders and related difficulties. She is specially interested in evidenced-based interventions designed to treat behavioral concerns early on and thus help maximize positive outcomes for youth and families, such as PCIT. In her spare time, Dr. Mendez enjoys hiking, playing with her cat, and exploring new places.

Naomi M Ruffin

Naomi M Ruffin PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Naomi Ruffin, PhD, is a post-doctoral associate at UF Springhill 2, specializing in Autism Assessment and Intervention. She holds a Master’s (M.Ed.) in Educational Psychology and a Doctorate (PhD) in School Psychology from Texas A&M University. During her doctoral training, she gained extensive experience in diverse settings, including large school districts, hospitals, and a community mental health clinic. Dr. Ruffin completed her predoctoral internship at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Houston, Texas, where she received specialized training in parent management training and solution-focused therapy.

Dr. Ruffin’s clinical and research interests center on Autism across the lifespan, as well as co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and mood disorders. She employs a client-centered and affirming approach in her therapeutic and diagnostic work, drawing on evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In addition to her professional pursuits, Dr. Ruffin enjoys playing bass guitar, planespotting, and playing trading card games.

Jacob C Steggerda

Jacob C Steggerda PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Jake Steggerda, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow trained in evidence-based psychotherapy and assessment for children, adolescents, adults, and families. He completed his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Arkansas and his internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Steggerda’s clinical area of expertise is in the treatment of childhood disruptive behaviors, primarily using Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

Additionally, Dr. Steggerda is passionate about integrating research with clinical practice and has published close to two dozen academic research papers and/or book chapters broadly related to evidence-based interventions for childhood disruptive behavior, elementary school children’s peer relationships, and scale development. In his free time, Dr. Steggerda enjoys playing pickleball, fantasy football, cooking, baking, and spending time with his dog.

Andreas P Stocker

Andreas P Stocker PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Andreas Stocker is a post-doctoral fellow, currently specializing in treating OCD and anxiety-related disorders with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (CBT-ERP). He completed his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, and his doctoral internship in health service psychology at the Pace University NYC Counseling Center. As part of his training, Dr. Stocker has treated diverse populations including adults, children, couples, and families at a community mental health clinic, a substance use treatment center, and several colleges and schools. Previously, he provided mental health services at a residential group home for adolescents, homeless shelters, a domestic violence shelter, and a hospice center.

Dr. Stocker practices client-centered and evidence-based that focuses on understanding the whole person from a biopsychosocial perspective. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, live music, and spending time with friends and family.